Hugh of Lucca
Encyclopedia
Hugh of Lucca and his son, Theodoric of Lucca, are noted for their use of wine
as an antiseptic
in the early 13th century.
in Italy in 1214 for a salary of 600 Bolognini
per year. His contract required that he serve the army in times of war, and in the Fifth Crusade
he joined the army in Egypt. He discovered, probably through empirical observation (there was no notion of infection by germs at this time), that wine was very effective at cleaning a wound and preventing infection. Regardless of what Hugh asserted, many surgeons still used ointments, or just cauterisation.
Unlike many other doctors and surgeons at that time, Hugh and Theodoric were aware that pus
was not a healthy sign. Other doctors referred to it as "praiseworthy pus" and believed it got rid of any toxins in the blood, and so, that it was a good sign.
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
as an antiseptic
Antiseptic
Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...
in the early 13th century.
Hugh of Lucca
Hugh of Lucca was appointed surgeon for BolognaBologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
in Italy in 1214 for a salary of 600 Bolognini
Bolognini
A bolognini was a unit of currency in renaissance Venice, Italy. One bolognini was equal to 1/100 of a ducat. Bolognini is the name of:*Ennio Bolognini , cellist*Mauro Bolognini , film director...
per year. His contract required that he serve the army in times of war, and in the Fifth Crusade
Fifth Crusade
The Fifth Crusade was an attempt to reacquire Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land by first conquering the powerful Ayyubid state in Egypt....
he joined the army in Egypt. He discovered, probably through empirical observation (there was no notion of infection by germs at this time), that wine was very effective at cleaning a wound and preventing infection. Regardless of what Hugh asserted, many surgeons still used ointments, or just cauterisation.
Unlike many other doctors and surgeons at that time, Hugh and Theodoric were aware that pus
Pus
Pus is a viscous exudate, typically whitish-yellow, yellow, or yellow-brown, formed at the site of inflammatory during infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess, whereas a visible collection of pus within or beneath the epidermis is known as a pustule or...
was not a healthy sign. Other doctors referred to it as "praiseworthy pus" and believed it got rid of any toxins in the blood, and so, that it was a good sign.
Theodoric of Lucca
Hugh's son described how new methods of dealing with wounds were being developed by "clever and ingenious surgeons". He often criticised accepted methods.See also
- SurgerySurgerySurgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
- Cauterisation
- Ambroise ParéAmbroise ParéAmbroise Paré was a French surgeon. He was the great official royal surgeon for kings Henry II, Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III and is considered as one of the fathers of surgery and modern forensic pathology. He was a leader in surgical techniques and battlefield medicine, especially the...
- John of Arderne
- InfectionInfectionAn infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
- Lady Mary Wortley MontaguLady Mary Wortley MontaguThe Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was an English aristocrat and writer. Montagu is today chiefly remembered for her letters, particularly her letters from Turkey, as wife to the British ambassador, which have been described by Billie Melman as “the very first example of a secular work by a woman about...
- Edward JennerEdward JennerEdward Anthony Jenner was an English scientist who studied his natural surroundings in Berkeley, Gloucestershire...
- Louis PasteurLouis PasteurLouis Pasteur was a French chemist and microbiologist born in Dole. He is remembered for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and preventions of diseases. His discoveries reduced mortality from puerperal fever, and he created the first vaccine for rabies and anthrax. His experiments...
- Robert KochRobert KochHeinrich Hermann Robert Koch was a German physician. He became famous for isolating Bacillus anthracis , the Tuberculosis bacillus and the Vibrio cholerae and for his development of Koch's postulates....
- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu